Apparatus for breaking animals&#39; necks



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Avarnreys July 9, 1929. T. A. sMlTH APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ANIMALS NECKS Filed April 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .o 4 8 67 3 5 32 M uw 44..,4 a 4 qw www M w Wsw Iliiill. [A QI! e m M 5 .wf w 95 F T B 8 Z 4A.,\. rv ,Y Z

Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

THOMAS A. SMITH, OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA,

ASSIGNOR TOiGEO. A. HORMEL & COM- PANY, 0F AUSTIN, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING ANIMALS NECKS.

. Application 'lled April 23, 1928. Serial'No. 272,105.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for breaking the necks of animals, particularly hogs, subsequent to the killing of the animal and to facilitate severing the head from the body.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a neck breaking apparatus by means of which the operation, usually requiring two men, can be performed by one with a mini- `mum of time and effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for breaking hogs necks, comprising a plunger, preferably iuid-operated, having means adapted to engage the hogs neck. a member adapted to engage a jaw of the hog, and means being provided for introducing a pressure fluid against the Y lunger, whereby the hogs head may be suddenly thrust backwardly and its neck broken.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the class described, comprising a. barrel having a spring-actuated plunger operable therein and provided at one end with a saddle adapted to engage the back of the hogs neck, a loop adapted to engage a jaw of the animal, and spaced from said saddle and fixed with respect to the barrel, and a Huid control device being connected with the barrel and having a connection with a source of fluid pressure whereby, when said device is operated, fluid will be introduced into the barrel to actuate the plunger and the hogs head will be suddenly thrust backwardly and its neck broken.

Other objects of the invention reside in the constructional details of the apparatus, including the fluid-actuated plunger and the saddle provided thereon for engaging the hogs neck; the demountable loop adapted to engage a jaw of the hog and its connection with the plunger barrel; the general construction of the Huid gun provided for conhogs necks, to facilitate the operation of severing the head from the body.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description andv accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the kaccompanying part of this specification;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus, partially broken away to show the general construction thereof; Y

Figure 2 is a plan view'of Figure 1, partially in section;

Figure 3 is a view. illustrating the application of the apparatus to a hogs neck and Ja-WS Figure 4 is a view similar showing the plunger operated hogs neck;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view on thel line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The novel apparatus featured in this invention comprises-a barrel 2 having a plunger 3 mounted therein. A piston 4 is secured to one end of t-he plunger 3 and is normally positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The opposite end of the plunger projects through the end of the barrel 2, and has a saddle 5 secured thereto by such means as a bolt or rivet 6. This saddle is preferably curved as shown in Figure 2 and has a plurality of sharp points 7 'provided thereon adapted to pierce the iesh near the jaw, to prevent slippage of the saddle 5, when the plunger is operated'.A A suitable compression spring 8 is coiled about the plunger 3 and has one end seated against the piston 4 and its opposite end against a shoulder 9, provided at the opposite end of the barrel 2, A slot 11 is preferably provided in the wall of the plunger 3 adapted to receivethe terminal 12 of a suitable screw 13, to prevent the plunger from relatively rotating within the' barrel 2.

drawings forming A bracket 14 has one end secured to the barrel 2, as shown in Figure 1, and has its opposite end connected With a member 15 to which a .loop 16, preferably of metalis deniountably secured by suitable bolts'17 and nuts 18, shown particularly in Figure 1. The member 15 hassan-tangled seati1-9 yadapted to receive the loopl. By reference to Figures 1, 3, and 4, Iit will be noted that the loop 16 is spaced front the saddle 5 ,an d that it is iXedly secured to the barrel 2 by means of the bracket 14, the upper end21 of which encircles the end of thebarrel2, as shown. i he screw 13-prevents-relative movement. ot' the bracket 14 upon the barrel 2. AThe oppositefendiof theJ loop-supporting member 1,5 is/suitably secured to the casing of a fluidcontrol gun 22, by suitablebolts 23.

The f luid gun 2,2 has aflange 24seated against a flanged cap 25, received in threaded engagementwith the end of-the'barrel2, as sho-Wn inrFigures 1, and 5. Bolts 26 secure the airigunto thefanged cap-25 of; the barrel 2.

i'lheaanged c ap25 has la'bore 27 ,communicating Witha bore 28 provided in the airgun` 22. These two alined bores provide axvalve chamber-adaptedto receive a valve 2,9. The valve is slidable'in-the valve chainber and, has a stem 31 passingthrough apartition 32 and intoa chamber 33, shown in Figure 5. A collar-34 is secured tothe stem 31.9,nd hasfa spring 35 seated against one side thereof, the opposite end of which is seated against the partition32. rFhis spring constantly urgesthe plunger 29 in a direction away from the barrel 2, -or into its normal posi-tion shown'in .Figui-e2. A plug 36 is receivedin threaded engagement with. the end of the bore 33 andis adapted to` be engaged by :the adjaeentendof the ste-1n 31,"When the spring 35 movesithestem Jtoits normal position -shoivnin Figure 2. 1

The valve 29 has an annular groove'37 as shown-'tiniFignres'5and'6. A duct 38fhas one end/communicating lwith the valve chamber 28 and its oppositeen'd connectedfwitnatport 39,4theopposite end of Which communicates With a :ftting41 adapted to lhave a flexible connection 42 connected `therewith Ias shown in Figure i1. This iflexible connection tleads to asuitablelsource of :fluid pressure, not shown.V A duct431has'oneend communicating with :the interiorof lthe=barrel 2 and its opposite end.connectedy with the valve chamber 28, at a pointfsubstantially in alinement vvith fthe zport 43, vshovvn iin :Figures 5 and 6. When the valve 29 is in ,normal position,

as shown in Figure 2, communication be tween the duct 38 Vand port 43 l.will be eut off because ,of lthe Wall portion 44. :shown 1in Figure i6, .separating the duct andport from each other, when the valve is in normal posiftion. Vhen the valve lis -in the posi-tion Shownin Figurefthe annular groove317 will' be substantially Valined lWith ythe .duct '38 and yingdioitfkeidearnis z47, straddling the body of the gun as particularly shown in Figure 6.

fLin-ks 48 -ar-epivotally connected with the arms 47 and have a pin 49 terminally mounted' therein Which passes through thebody of the fluid gun and through an ,apertureprovided at the end oi" the valve stem '31. 'Slots 51 are provided in the bodyof the air gun to permit movement of they pin 49 ,when the trigger 45 is actuated. Y

An exhaust-port 52fis provided in-thehandle 53 ofthe fluid gun 22, `and has one end connected -ivith -the valve chamber 28, as y shownin Figure 5. The connection betweenthe exhaust port 52 and the-valve chamber 28'isy such that when the valve 29 isinvthe posit-ion shown inFigure 2,*the end Dtth'evalve will clear'the intake end of thecxhfaust duct 52s() aste permit thefluid in thebarrehto escape therefrom through the :exhaust port tothe atmosphere. Figure 2 illustrates the valve in its normalposition, whereinit will benotedjthatthe exhaust Iport is open and the'intakeport'is closed.

In describing the operation ofvthis novel apparatus, itis to fbe understood Ath-atthe dressed bodies ofthehogs Or animals are sus pendedifronithe usual dressing rail commonly employed 'in vpacking plants, with ttheir heads normally lposititmed substantially as indicated in 'Figure 3. The purposeof 'the apparatus-isto separate the baseofthe skull from the spinalcolumn sothat'the operation of severing -the ,head from the 'bodyv may `be expedited. To "breakthe neck of-` a hog as above stated, the apparatus isapplied to the animal as shown in Figure `3, ivitlnthe loopvv 1G preferably inserted in the hogsmouth and the, saddle? seated against the .neck orbase of the skull asshown.l The apparatus is manually held bysthe operator, .who then pullsdhe trigger 45 jfromthe position shown in 'Figure 1,to that shown in Figure 5.7 thereby opening -the valve-29 to permit the pressure fluid to venter .the barrel "2 against the piston 4, whereupon the latter isi instantlvriforced forwardly, resulting Vin the 'hogs head being thrust backivardly as indicated Figure causing -the ibreaking of the lhogs Ineck or 1the separation of thespinall column from-the base of ythe skull. As soon as the 'trigger iis rei leased, Ithe spring 35 will ret-urn the valve-to its normal position shown in Figure 2. thereby-closing the intake port38 4and subsequently .opening the exhaust port .52, resulting 'in fore the plunger 3 to their shown in Figures l and 2.

It has been found that by the use of this novel apparatus for breaking hogs necks in packing plants and similar places, that the neck-breaking operation is greatly expedited and simplified, and the base ofthe skull is also separated from the spinal column to the eX- tent that the operation of severing the head from the body is greatly simplified and the head may be removed with a minimum of joWl, as compared to present methods now employed. In large packing plants, where thousands of hogs are slaughtered daily, the use of this apparatus has been found indispensable because ofthe ease and rapidity with which it may be operated, which allows the operator ample time to break the neck of cach hog as it passes his station, suspended from the dressing rail or tracks.

In various Ways, the details of construction herein shown and described may be modified and still bc within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A hog neck breaking device comprising means adapted to engage a jaw of the dressed hog at right angles substantially to the animals spine, and means for suddenly applying a thrusting pressure to the neck adjacent said jaw, against the resistance of said jawengaging means.

2. A hog neck breaking device comprising means adapted to engage a jaw of the dressed ho@r at right angles substantially to the anima s spine, and a fluid-operated plunger for applying a thrusting pressure to the neck adjacent said jaw, against the resistance of said jaw-engaging means.

n apparatus for breaking animals necks including a fluid-operated plunger, means on said plunger adapted to engage the animals neck, a member adapted to engage a jaw of the animal, and means for introducing a pressure fluid against said plunger to actuate the latter, whereby the animals head will be thrust backwardly to break its neck.

4. An apparatus for breaking animals necks, comprising a barrel having a plunger operable therein, means on said plunger adapted to engage the animals neck, a member adapted to engage a jaw of the animal, spaced from said means and Xed with respect to said barrel, and means for introducing a pressure fluid against said plunger to actuate the latter, whereby the animals head will be suddenly thrust backwardly to separate the base of the skull from the spinal column.

5. An apparatus for breaking dressed hogs necks, comprising a barrel having a plunger operable therein, a saddle secured to one end of said plunger and adapted to engage the hogs neck, a member adapted to engage a jaw of the hog, spaced from said saddle, and fixed normal positions,

with respect to saidbarrel, and means for introducing a pressure fluid into said barrel to suddenly actuaterthe plunger, whereby the hogs head willbe thrust backwardly and its neck broken. r

6. An apparatus for breaking dressed hogs necks, comprising a barrel having a plunger operable therein,-a saddle secured to one end of the plunger and adapted to engage the hogs neck, a loop adapted to engage a jaw of the hog, spaced from said saddle, and fixed with respect to said barrel, and a fluid gun secured to the barrel and having a connection with a source of fluid under pressure and adapted to control the introduction of fluid into said barrel to actuate said plunger.

7. An apparatus for breaking dressed hogs necks, comprising a barrel having a plunger operable therein, means on one end of said plunger adapted to engage the hogs neck, a supporting member secured to said barrel, a. loop demountably secured to said supporting member and adapted to engage a jaw of the hog, and means for introducing a pressure fluid against said plunger to actuate the latter, whereby the hogs head will be thrust backwardly and its neck broken.

8. An apparatus for breaking hogs necks, comprising a barrel having a spring-retained plunger operable therein, one end of which projects from said barrel, means on the projecting end of said plunger adapted to engage the hogs neck, a supporting member secured to the barrel and having one end spaced therefrom, a member secured to said supporting member and adapted to engage a jaw of the animal, and means for introducing a pressure fluid against said plunger to project it from the barrel, whereby the animals head will be suddenly thrust backwardly and its neck broken at the base of the skull.

9. An apparatus for breaking hogs necks, comprising a barrel having a spring-retained plunger operable therein, a saddle secured to one end of said plunger and adapted to engage the hogs neck, a loop adapted to engage a jaw of the hog, spaced from said saddle, and fixed with respect to said barrel, and a fluid control gun secured to one end of said barrel and connected with a source of fluid supply under pressure, and adapted to control the flow of pressure fluid to and from said barrel to actuate the plunger.

10. An apparatus for breaking hogs necks, comprising a barrel having a. plunger operable therein, and provided at one end with a piston, a saddle secured to the opposite end of the plunger and adapted to engage the hogs neck, a spring coiled about said plunger and constantly urging it in one direction, a supporting member secured to said barrel and having one end spaced therefrom, a loop demountably secured to said member and adapted to engage a jaw of the hog, said loop being spaced from said saddle, and a fluid gun secured to the barrel and having a connection with a Source of fluid under pressure and adapted to control the flow of fluid to and from said barrel to aotuate said plunger, said 5 loop-supporting member having one end secured to the body of vsaid fluid gun.

11. A device for breaking the necks of dressed hogs, comprising a member, adapted against, whereby the neck of .the animal is broken.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto setmy hand this 16th day of April, 1928.

THOMAS A.V SMITH. 

